Slidable jaw end wrench with spiral actuator



July 25, 1961 E. F. scHLoTE SLIDABLE JAW END WRENCH WITH SPIRAL ACTUATOR Filed July 8, 1959 T-SCHL o 7E lagig. ATTORNEY 2,993,398 SLIDABLE JAW END WRENCH WITH SPIRAL ACTUATGR Ernest F. Schlote, San Antonio, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Lok-Slide Wrench Company, Inc.,

Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed July 8, 1959, Ser. No. 825,841 6 Claims. (Cl. 81-170) This invention relates to an improved construction of end Wrench having a fixed jaw and Ia second jaW which is slidably movable toward and away from the fixed jaw by means of a spiral actuator.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an end wrench including a handle having a recessed head formed integral with one end thereof and which handle is provided with a separate section extending from adjacent the head to adjacent the end of the handle, located remote from the head, which handle section is secured immovably to the main body of the wrench after being separately manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench as heretofore described wherein the main body of the wrench and the handle section can be drop-forged and the ends of the main body of the handle accurately drilled, prior to applying and securing the separately produced handley section.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench having an actuating unit of novel construction capable of being readily applied to a wrench body, after the separate handle section has been applied, -and which will function to eiect operation of the movable jaw with a minimum of resistance and friction. Y

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the wrench;

FIGUREY 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof, partly in elevation, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 3; Y

FIGURE 3 is an edge elevational view of the wrench, looking toward the underside of the wrench as seen in FIGURE 1, and on an enlarged scale relative to FIG- URE l, and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken substantially along planes as indicated by the lines 4-4 and 5f5, respectively, of FIGURE 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the improved wrench in `its entirety is designated generally 7 and includes a hollow wrench body 8 formed of -a main body section 9 and a separate handle section 10. The main body section 9 and the handle sectionl 10 are separately produced by drop-forging.

VThe wrench 7 includes a hollow head 11 forming an integral part of the main wrench body portionr9. The head 11 has ya bore 12 which is disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the wrench body 9 and which has a closed end provided with a restricted tapered socket 13 and a somewhat enlarged internally threaded open opposite end 14.

The head 11 includes an integral stationary jaw 15 which projects from an end of the outer edge thereof, disposed remote from the threaded bore end 14. The head 11 has a recessed portion extending therethrough, substantially parallel to the bore 12 and which is disposed between said bore and the stationary jaw 15. Said recessed portion forms a passage 16 having a restricted open inner side 17 opening transversely into the bore 12, and a restricted open outer edge 18 which opens outwardly of the head 11 below the face of the jaw 15.

-A worm 19 is disposed for rotation in the bore 12 nited States Patent O i lce and has a tapered stem end 20 which is journaled in the socket 13. A pinion 21 is secured on the stern or core of the worm 19, beyond the end of the thread thereof, located remote from the stern end 20. 'Ihe other end of the worm stem, beyond the pinion 21, is tapered as seen at 22 to turnably engage in a tapered socket 23 in the inner end of a threaded thrust bearing 24 which is adjustably mounted in the bore end 14. An annular nut 25 threadedly engages in the outer part of the threaded bore portion 14 and against the outer side of the thrust bearing 24 for retaining said thrust bearing in a desired adjusted position.

A slidable jaw 26 has a shank 27 fitting slidably in the passage 16 and which is provided with a restricted toothed inner edge portion 28 which meshes with the thread of the worm 19. Said tooth portion 28 is disposed at the inner end of the shank 27 and the outer end of the shank is provided with a restricted lateral extension 29 which lits slidably in the restricted outer passage portion 18 and which connects the jaw 26 to the shank 27, so that said jaw constitutes a lateral extension of the outer end of the shank. The jaw 26 is disposed in opposed relation to the stationary jaw 15 and is slidably movable toward and away from the jaw 15 when the shank 27 is moved in the passage 16. 'Ihe parts of the head 11 previously described are conventional.

The improved features of the wrench 7 include theremainder of the wrench body 9 constituting an elongated handle section 30 one side of which is recessed, as seen at 31, from adjacent the head 11 to adjacent the end of the handle portion 30, located remote from said head. The recessed handle portion 31 has a groove 32 extending from Vend-to-end thereof and which is of substantially semicircular cross section. The outer end portion or eX- trernity 33 of the handle portion 30 is of a thickness substantially corresponding to the thickness of the head 11 and has a centrally disposed bore 34 extending longitudig nally therethrough. The handle portion-30 is provided with dovetail cuts forming end walls 35 of the recessed portion 31, vas best seen in FIGURE 3.

site end opening into an end of the recessed handle portion 31 and the groove 32. The axis of the bore 36 is disposed in alignment with the axis of the bore 34.

By producing the main body 9 of the wrench separately from the insert 10, the groove 32 can be formed by the drop-forging operation and the bore 36 can be accurately drilled without the necessity of the drill bit being required to extend through the bore 34. Consequently,ithe bore 36 can be drilled more accurately than if a drill bit of a length greater than the length of the handle portion 30 had to be utilized.

The handle insert 10 is of a length to fit snugly in the recessed portion 31 and has dovetail shaped end walls 37 which conformably engage and abut the end walls 35. The insert 10 is applied laterally to the recess 31 and the wrench body portions 9 and 10 are then permanently secured together, as by copper brazing. The insert 10 is also formed `by drop-forging and has a groove 38 extending from end-to-end of the inner side thereof. The groove 38 is of semicircular cross section and is disposed in opposed relationship to the groove 32, as seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, to combine therewith to form a bore 32, 38 extending between the bores 34 and 36. The handle insert 10 has a slot extending substantially from end-to-end thereof, as best seen at 39 in FIGURE 4, and which opens into the top central portion of the bore 32, 38.

A bushing 40 has a bearing 41 journaled therein. The bearing 41 has a barrel shaped exterior to minimize contact between the bearing and bushing so that the bearing may rotate freely in the bushing. A crown gear 42 is xed to an end of the bearing 41 and projects from anl A bore 36k has one end opening diagonally into the bore 12 and an oppo- 3 end of the bushing 40. ing 41 assembled therein, is inserted through the bore 34, bore 32, 38 and into the bore 36. The bore 36 has a` rearwardly `facing shoulder 43 against which the forward end of the bushing 40 abuts, and the crown gear 42 projects from said forward bushing end and meshes with the pinion 2.1. The other rear end of the bearing 41 has a rearwardly opening recess 44 including a restricted inner part and a noncircular outer part, for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

An actuating slide, designated generally 45, includes an elongated button 46 having a fiat underside 47. The actuating slide 4S includes a ring member 48 and a neck portion 49. `One end of the neck portion 49 is secured to a portion of the exterior of the ring 48 and the other end of the neck portion 49 is secured to the underside 47 of the butto-n 46, midway of the ends and side edges of said button. Thus, the ring 48 is spaced from the underside 47 of the button and is disposed crosswise of the axis of the button, as seen in FIGURES 4 and 5. A core 50 is secured within the ring y48 and has a central opening -1. The core 50 is formed of a self-lubricating material such as Teflon The underside l47 of the button, immediately in front of and behind the neck 49, is provided with a rib 52 as best seen in FIGURE 3.

The ring 48 is of a width less than the Width of the slot 39 so that the ring can be inserted through said slot into the bore 32, 38. The neck 49 is of a cross sectional size so that it can be turned in the slot 39 for positioning the ring 48 crosswise of the bore 32, 38, as seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, in which position the button46 is disposed lengthwise of the wrench handle. The ring 48 vhas a loose fitting engagement in the bore 32, 38.

A torque imparting shaft or spiral 53 is formed from an elongated rod of square cross ksection and which is twisted to form spiral threads 54 extending from end-toend thereof. The leading end of the shaft or spiral 53 is inserted through the bore 34 into the bore y32, 38 and is forced through the core opening 51 to reshape-said opening to conform to the cross sectional shape of the 'shaft or spiral 53, as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5.

'Ihe shaft or spiral 53 is moved toward the head L1 until the restricted leading end 55` thereof enters and conformably ffits in the bearing socket 44 for keying the bearing 41 to the shaft 53. A thrust bearing 56 is inserted into the bore 34 behindthe shaft 53. The forward end of the bearing 56 has a bearing socket to receive the tapered restricted rear end 57 of the shaft or spiral 53. The bearing `56 Yis detachably secured immovably inthe bore `34 by a setscrew 58 which engages a threaded opening 59 of the handle portion 33. With the shaft or spiral 53 thus disposed, said shaft or Vspiral exerts a downward pull on the actuator slide 45 to draw the underside 47 of the button against the exterior of the handle insert and so that the ribs 52 will engage in the slot 39 to prevent any rotational movement of the slide 45'relative tothe Wrench handle while the shaft or spiral 53 is in engagement with theV slide. The handle portion 33 may be provided with a transverse opening 60 by which the tool may he hung up on a nail or hook and which is disposed outwardly with respect -to the thrust bearing 5'6.

As previously stated, the ribs 52 hold the ring l48 crosswise of the spiral 53 to avoid any binding between said spiral and the slide 45 so that a minimum of manual force will be required to move the slide'long'itudinally of the wrench handle to the effect rotation of the spiral-53, bearing 41, crown gear 42, pinion 21 and worm 19 for moving the jaw 26 toward or away from the jaw 15. The spiral 53 contains a sufficient numberY of convolutions of its threads 54 so that the movable jaw 26 will move from its fully open position of FIGURES yl and 2 to a closed-position substantially in contact with the jaw during movement of the slide 45 from its position of. FIGURES l and 2 to a positionadjacent the other forward end of the slot 39.

The bushing 40, with the beari Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with an end wrench including an elongated handle having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a recessed head formed on one end of the handle and provided with a fixed jaW and a slidably movable jaw having a shank slidably engaging in said head for guiding the slidable jaw in its movement toward and away from the fixed jaw, the recess of the head communicating with one end of the handle bore, said handle having a longitudinally extending slot opening outwardly thereof and into said handle bore; a slide having a part disposed for sliding movement in said slot, a part loosely contained within the handle bore and a part disposed externally of the handle, said last mentioned parts being connected by said first mentioned part, a spiral extending longitudinally through the handle bore and through the part of the slide disposed therein, means disposed in the handle bore and journalling said spiral, means contained within the recessed head and forming a driving connection between the slidable jaw and spiral whereby rotation of the spiral will effect movement of the slidable jaw toward and away from said fixed jaw, said spiral being revolved by movement of the slide longitudinally of the handle, the part of said slide contained within said bore including a ring of a width of less than the width of said slot for movement through said slot into and out of engagement with the handle bore, and said first mentioned part of `the slide comprising a neck portion slidably and turnably fitting said slot for positioning the ring crosswise of the handle for receiving the spiral or parallel to the handlefor movement through the slot.

2. A Wrench as in claim 1, said ring having a core providedV with an opening Vshaped to correspond to the cross sectional shape of the spiral and to conformably engage around a part thereof to effect rotation of the spiral Vwhen the slide is moved longitudinally of the handle. Y i

3. A wrench as in claim 2, the part of said slide disposed externally of the handle insert including a manually engageable button having means` on the underside thereof engaging in saidslot to prevent turning of the slide relative( to the handle when the slide is in engagement with the spiral.

4. In Ycombination with an end wrench including an elongated handle having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and a recessed head formed on one end of said handle and provided with a fixed jaw and a slidable jaw, the recess of saidhead communicating with one end of 4the handle bore, said slidable jaw having a shank slidablyengaging in the head recess for guiding the slidable jaw in its movement toward and away from the fixed jaw; an actuating assembly for said Vslidable jaw comprising a spiral extending longitudinally through the handle bore, means mounted in end portions of said' in said bore, an outer part disposed externally of the` handle and an intermediate part slidably engaging in said slot, said inner part Vincluding an outer ring Vportion having a loose fitting engagement Yin the handle boreV and an inner core formed of VaV yieldable self-lubricat- Y ing material havinga central opening through'which said spiral extends, the interior of saidV core being deformed by engagement with'the spiralv to 'conformably fit therearound for rotating the` spiral when the slide is moved' Ylongitudinally ofthe handle, andA means contained in the recess of the-head and forming a driving connection between the sliding jaw and spiral whereby rotation of the spiral will effect movement of the slidable jaw toward and away from the fixed jaw.

5. In a wrench as dened by claim 4, said spiral being rigid and functioning with the journal means thereof for supporting the inner part of the slide centered relative to and out of contact with the handle bore and for maintaining parts of the outer portion of the slide in engagement with longitudinally spaced portions of the slot for keying the slide nonturnably to the handle.

6. In combination with an end wrench including an elongated handle having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a recessed head formed on one end of the handle and provided with a fixed jaw and a slidably movable jaw having a shank slidably engaging -in said head for guiding the slidable jaw in its movement toward and away from the fixed jaw, the recess of the head communicating with one end of the handle bore, said handle having a longitudinally extending slot opening outwardly thereof and into said handle bore; a slide having a part disposed for sliding movement in said slot, a part loosely contained within the handle bore and a part disposed externally of the handle, said last mentioned parts being connected by said iirst mentioned Icontained Within said bore including an annular deformable core conformably embracing the spiral.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,354,782 Scholte Oct. 5, 1920 1,723,574 Nenmerkel Aug. 6, 1929 1,739,182 Scholte Dec. 10, 1929 1,915,396 Alemany June 27, 1933 2,447,094 Scholte Aug. 17, 1948 2,603,116 Scholte et al. July 15, 1952 2,753,748 Scholte July 10, 1956 2,795,987 Scholte June 18, 1957 2,837,952 Pritchett June 10, 1958 

